Adjustable stuffing box



March E8, 1924:. AZZSE E. E. STEVENSON ADJUSTABLE STUFFING BOX Filed Jam 25 1922 Patentedr Mar. 18, 1924. I

UNITED STATI-:s

BATENT orner...

E. STEVENSON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO D. & B. PUMP AND SUPPLY COMPANY, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, CORPORATION OF, CALI- ronnie.

ADJ' USTAIBLE STUFFING- IBO/X.

rAppnuatmn med January 25, 1922. serial Heteren.

end 14 with the upper end of the pump tub- Y" To al@ whom t may concern.'

Be 1t known that lI, EDWARD'E. S'rnvnNsoN,

a citizen` of the United States, residing, at'

Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented` new and useful Improvements/in. Adjustable Stuffing Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact disclosure.

The present invention pertains generall to adjustable stufling boxes for oil wel pumping apparatus, designed to be 'removably secured to the upper end of the pump 'tubing, to furnish a package joint for the polished rod of the pump mechanism; while speclfically it ertalns to anew and novel arrangement o handles for effecting its ad-` justment,

The salient featuresv of my invention will be described in detail in the following speciiication, reference being made therein to the accompanying drawings illustrating the same, 1n which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the stuiingbox assembly; Fig. 2 is a transversevvertlca-,l section, on an enlarged scale, of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1; Fi 3 is a lan view ogf the assembly shown in ig. 2; fra entary sectional plan view, taken as indicated by the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is 'a fra mentary elevation taken as indicated by t e line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

While the construction and operation of the particular stuiing box herein disclosed and 'described in a copending a plication for patent filed on the 25th day o January,

' 1922, Serial Number531,680; I will nevertheless generally describe it here'in order that the eiicacy and operation of the presentl improvements may be iullyunderstood. In

this connection it may be here stated that while my invention will be hereinafter described in connection with a stuiing box, it will be obviousthat it need lnot necessarily be limited to such.

The numeral 10 designates generally a body pprtion of the stufng box, cylindrical in' cross sectional configuration; and haw ing a plurity of progressively smaller concentric bores 11, 12 and 1?@ extending from top to bottom throughout its length. The end of the body portion 10, surroundin the bore 13, is slightly reduced in size an ex ternally taper screw threaded at its lower end, to form a screw Jthreaded connection with a coupling 15, connecting thisreduced ig. 4 is a` ing 16.

The bore 13 provides a guide bearin for`A the reciprocally movable polished -ro 117, which extends therethrough i this bore being movement. It is well known in connection with oil well pumping apparatus that the polished rod 17 forms a connecting link ,be-l

tween the walking beam (not shown) and a sucker rod 18. f

In' the present instance a tubular sleeve `slightly larger than the rod to permit-its free member 19 is rigidly mounted in the inter- .l mediate bore 12, preferably by means of a shrunk joint; this sleeve ,surrounding the rod 17 and forming an annular wall between it and the perimeter of theAbore 11.

A plurality of radlal lugs 2O maybe formedintegral with the body portion 10, to extend into the bore 1'1 and engage the perimeter 'of the sleeve 19, adjacent its -upper end, to support this end against lateral movement. The sleeve 19 is 'designed to contain a suitable packing 21, to form a tight joint around the rod 17, and prevent, as fares possible,

the escapement of oil upwardly from the ameter to permit its easily litting within the sleeve 19; the gland having anA axial bore 25 with which the rod 17 makes a sliding fit.'

An annular channel 26 is formed intermediate the ends of the bore 25, and a pair 'of di-A ametrically opposed slots 27 extend through the side walls of the gland, so that any oil escapin upwardly past the packing 21 will be caug t within the channe 26; the excess being permitted to escape therefrom-through the slots 27, over the top 28 of the sleeve 19 and intothe bore 11, to be drained therefrom through a ipe 29.

The/hea 24 is likewise referably cylindrical in conliguration, eing internally screw threaded adjacent its lower end to Aengagethe externally screw threaded upper end of the body ortion 10, as clearly shown in Fig, 1. In t is manne? the head 24 is made axially adjustable. relative to the body portion 10. The gland 23 is rigidly held 1n. engagement with the' packing 21 by means of its upper end (surrounding the rod 17) being engaged by a transverse wall 31; the latter being preferably formed integral with the head4 24 to extend across its interior adjacent its upper end. The Wall 31 has an axial bore 32 through which the rod 17 extends.

The head 24 is ydesigned to be rotatably adjusted upon the body ortion 10 by means of a pair of diametrica y opposed andles 33 adjustably mounted upon it in the manner hereinafter described. f

Handles 33are preferably cylindrical, of

,anyfdesired length suitable for accomplishing the work of rotatably adjustingcthe head 24 with ease; and, in this connection, it is apparent that the work to bedone will be I material in determining the length of-the handles in each particular instance. Each of the handles. 33 hasan upper enlarged end 34 and a lower enlarged end 35. These ends 34 and 35 maybe formed in any suitable manner, it being desirable only that they be of a larger diameter than the handles 33. Eitherone or both of them may be formed separate and attachable to the handles; it being only necessary, as will hereinafter appear to'have at `least one of them on each handle removable in order that the latter may be properly assembled with the head 24. It is preferred, however, ,that the ends 34 be removable and that the ends 35 be formed yintioslgral with the handles.`

andles 33 are carried by diametrically opposed brackets-generally designated by the numeral 36-preferably formed integral with the head l24 adjacent its upper end,

and adjustable therein so as to be moved from their inoperative positions, as shown l, in Fig. 2, to their operative positions as "Wal shown in Fig. 1. Normally they hang in their inoperative positions.

Each of the brackets 36 has a vertically disposed opening 37 in it for the reception of the head 35, when ,the handle 33 is in operative position, this opening being slightly greater in width than the head 35 and of a depth at its upper` end 37a slightly greater than the longitudinal thickness of the head 35 to permit free movement of the latter therein. j A slot 38, radial with the head 24, is cut through the bracket, leaving a small front supporting wallI 39, and a top supporting 40 over the portion 37. The inner vertical faces 38al of the walls 39, and also the top'.N horizontal faces 38", are arcuate to conform to the peripheries of the handles 33, when -in either their vertical or horizontal positions, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In a like manner the inner vertical faces 40*l of the walls 40 are arcuate to conform to the 33, to permit a sliding` movement of the latter therein, and at the same time closely conform to their diametral sizes when they are in the position shown in Fig. 1. The differences in Widths between the openings 37 and 38 form ledges or shoulders 41 on opposite sides of the opening, these ledges being curved towards their bottomsf-as i at 41h-to their point of juncture with the inner faces of the walls 39. Thus in moving' one of the handles 33 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2 (from the vertical position shbwn in that figure to the horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1) the handle is lifted by the end 34 upwardly until the head 35 engagesv the bottom face39", ofthe wall 39. The upper end of the handle is then swung towards a horizontal posivtion upon the face 38b as a fulcrum which will cause the head 35 to engage the curved surfaces 41a of the ledges 41, and thus following these curved surfaces around it will be guided to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. In this position the peripheral ed of the head 35 rests against the bottom ace 40bof the wall 40, while the adjacent portion of the handle 33 rests upon the top arcuate face 38b of the wall 39. In

nal or axial movement bythe end 35 being held between the ledges 41 'and the back of the opening 37 and against horizontal movement by the sides of the openings 37 and 38 engaging diametrically opposite sides of the handle 33 and end 35. When both handles 33 are thus extended in coaxial alignment the head 24 may be easily rotated thereby. To return the handles 33 from their horizontal or operative positions to their inop--r erative or vertical positions, it is only necessary to raise their outer-ends to vertical positions and drop them down in the'brackets.

The top faces 42, of the brackets 36, are

`beveled to incline downwardly from the top,

so that when the handles 33 are han ing 1n their vertical positions, as shown in ig.'2, the under faces 34, of the ends 34, will en- Ygage these inclined surfaces, tending to hold f the surface 24,

swing inwardly at their bottom ends is due to the weight of the handles and the fact that the faces 34aengaging the inclined surfaces 42 are at right angles to their longitudinal axes. 'llhus the handles are at all times, except when in use in their horizontal positions, held inwardly towards the body portion l0 in a osition to avoid catching upon adjacent obJects when the stalling box is' being raised or lowered relative to the derrick floor.

Furthermore the surfaces 42 are located, relative to the top surface 24n of the head 24, so that'when the handles 38 are hanging in their normal inoperative` positions (shown inV `lFig. 2) the ends 34 will be below rlhis lermits an elevator to be secured to the ro- 17, and restmpon the top 24a, for drawing the pump from its tubing, without striking or interference from the handles.

While l have herein shown and described a preferredv specific embodiment of my invention, l nevertheless reserve the right to make any changes or modifications in structure which will properly come within the scope of the ap nded claims.

Having descri ed a preferred form of my invention, what l claim is:

l. Handle means for rotating a rotatable member; said means'comprising a bracket on said member having a slot; said slot being radial and enlarged at its inner end; a handle axially movable in said slot from an inoperativeposition substantially axially parallel to said rotatable member to an operative position at substantially right angles thereto; enlarged ends on said handle to prevent its removal from said slot; said slot having a wall extending across the bottom of its radial portion, `and a wall extending across the top of its enlarged portion, they former to support the handle and the latter to engage an enlarged end, when the handleis 'in lts operative position; the slot except at its enlarged portion being of a width substantially equal to thickness ofthe handle,v

and the width of the enlarged portion of the slot being substantially equal to the thickness of the enlarged handle end, so that the slot walls form lateralabutments against which the handle bears.

. 2'. Handle means for rotating a rotatable member; said means comprising a bracket'l on said member having 'ya slot; said slot being radial and enlarged at its inner end; a handle axially movable in said 'slot from an inoperative position substantially axially parallel to said rotatable member to an operative position at substantially ri ht angles thereto; enlarged ends on said andle to prevent its removal from said slot; 'said slot having an outer wall extending across the bottom -ofits radial portionand an inner wall extending across the top of its enlarged therese and the latter to engage an enlarged end when the handle is in its operative position, the top face of the bracket being inclined downwardly towards its outer end so that CLwhen said top face supports the handle in inoperative position the upper enlarged handle end will tend to slip down and outwardly on the bracket until the handle comes into contact with the outer 'lower wall of the slot and so that thus the lower end of the handle tends to be kept in close tothe rotatable member.

3. Handle means for rotating a rotatable member; comprising a slotted bracket on the member, said slot extending radiallyand widened at its inner e'nd and having an inwardly facing shoulder in its side wallbe' tween its wide and narrow parts, the bracket having a wall extending across the lower outer part. of the slot and a wall extending across the upper inner enlarged part of the slot, a handle with enlarged ends, the handle fitting the narrow part of the slot and the member; comprising a slotted bracket on the y radially and member, said slot extendin widened at its inner end an having an inwardlyv facing shoulder in its side wall between its wide and narrow parts, the bracket having a wall extending across the lower outer part of the slot and a wall extending across the upper inner enlarged part of the slot, the shoulder extending, from a point at the lower edge and outer end of the slot, inwardly and upwardly to a point at the upper edge near the inner end of the slot, a handle with enlarged ends, the handle fitting the narrow part -o the slot and the enlarged wall shoulder engaging the enlarged handle end' to keep the` end of the handle in the inner art of the slot.

Y 5. andle means for rotating a rotatable member, said means comprising a bracket on said member having a slot; a handle axially movable in said slot from an inoperative position substantially axially parallel to said rotatable member to an operative position at substantiall right angles thereto; enlarged ends bn. sai handle to prevent its removal from said slot; the said slot .being formed to engage an enlarged end and end fitting the widened part of the slot, the

the handle adjacent thereto when the latter is in its operative osition. n

In witness that claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13 kday of Jan. 1922.

EDWARD E. .STEVENSON Witness :f

E. D. Caveman. 

